The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were working frantically on Monday night to trade the expensive all-pro cornerback, and a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports that the team was in discussion with several potential suitors.

The person did not want to be identified, given the sensitivity and fluidity of the case.

The Bucs are trying to deal Revis -- arguably the league's best and undeniably its highest-paid cornerback -- before the new league year begins at 4 p.m. on Tuesday because there was no progress in the team's attempts to restructure his contract with a significant pay cut, another person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports.

The attempts to move Revis were first reported by ESPN.

Revis, 28, was acquired by the Bucs from the New York Jets in a trade before last year's draft, then signed to a six-year, $96 million contract extension.

Although new Bucs coach Lovie Smith has previously declared that Revis, who specializes in man-to-man coverage, could fit in his Cover 2 schemes, the salary apparently doesn't fit.

The deal carries a $13 million base salary, $3 million in roster and workout bonuses and a $16 million cap figure for 2014. Revis' deal, when considering the new money from his extension and his previous deal with the Jets, averages $18.2 million – more than $8 million more than the Dallas Cowboys' Brandon Carr averages as the NFL's next-highest paid cornerback.

If the Bucs are unsuccessful in attempts to trade Revis, and if he doesn't have a change of heart in accepting a reduced contract, it appears likely that he will be released.

PHOTOS: 2014 NFL free agency

TE Jimmy Graham was franchised by the Saints. The 2014 tag for TEs is worth $7.1 million (the WR tag is worth $12.1M). (Photo: Derick E. Hingle, USA TODAY Sport)